Listed below are some of the major accomplishments in 2009 that you helped make possible through your generosity and support.

•    2009 was a blessing for the monks of the Children's Monastery. Through the success of its Monk Sponsorship program, YTDR was able to receive over twenty more orphaned children at the Monastery, making a total of 52. The program was designed to provide yearly sponsorship of the children to ensure that all the children's needs are covered for a year (food, robes, and school supplies). To date, only four monks are still waiting to be sponsored. The program encourages communications between the sponsors and the monks, and it has created great joy on both sides, building what will hopefully become long- lasting relationships. Monk Sponsorship is managed as part of YTDR's ACT (Assist the Children of Tibet)  program.


•    YTDR reaches out to approximately 200 Tibetan refugee families and seniors by providing financial support for the basic necessities of extremely destitute living conditions. Many families living in rural areas of Central India and Nepal are unable to provide for themselves due to illness, old age or mental disabilities. For several years, YTDR founder Tulku Tsori Rinpoche has personally provided for the basic necessities of many of these destitute families that still remain in exile after 40 years.  In 2009, YTDR distributed over $5,000 amongst some of the poorest families of Mainpat Tibetan Refugee Settlement in India, where the major source of livelihood for these people comes only from agriculture and selling of sweaters during the winter months. Future plans for the program include developing one to one sponsorship of families, similar to Monk Sponsorship.

•    ACT (Assist the Children of Tibet) sprung forward to fight against malnutrition in the Mainpat Tibetan Refugee camp, for which YTDR founder, Tulku Tsori Rinpoche, is a primary benefactor. Through quick fundraising efforts, a large order of PlumpyNut, a nutritional paste used for cases of malnutrition in Africa and other places, was delivered to the camp. Since taking the food supplement, there was a significant improvement in the natural growth of the children who were underweight, and there were fewer incidents all around of children falling ill due to common diseases.


•    There were several medical emergencies that were faced in the Monastery in 2009. Gevi Lodoe, a school teacher in the monastery, was diagnosed with a tumor in his mouth. A successful surgery was performed that removed the tumor, and treatment was started. Khenpo Tinzen Sherap, assisting Lama to Tulku Tsori and a native of Eastern Tibet, contracted a urinary tract infection, which would require surgery and treatments. Child monks Tamdrin Gyurme and Sonam Dechen, both suffered malaria and were treated in a government hospital two hours from Mainpat. Both have now recovered and have resumed their studies. Having proper nutrition and vitamins for the children, and methods of basic prevention against disease such as mosquito nets over the beds to reduce exposure, remain a constant concern.


•    Tenpa Foundation was founded in Nepal which will serve as a trust for YTDR operations in that country to provide support for lineage monasteries, spiritual retreats, and refugee people. An example of the kinds of needs that Tenpa helps address include sponsoring education, maintenance of monasteries, and programs to assist for the elderly. A recent achievement of Tenpa was the sponsorship of education of 17 monks from Garphuk Monastery located on the very border of Tibet and Katmandu. At an elevation of 14,000 feet and without reliable electricity, the harsh winters make it not possible for these children to study. Tenpa made it possible for these children to stay in Phokara, a major city of Nepal, during the four most severe winter months, where they were provided housing and a tutor in order to continue their studies. Tulku Tsori Rinpoche oversees the ongoing management and strategic direction of Tenpa Foundation.


•    The construction of a Monastery the Mainpat Tibetan Refugee Camp in Central India is approximately 20 percent complete.   Construction of the new Monastery, dubbed "Children's Monastery” began in 2005. It currently serves as an orphanage for children who are being educated in the monastic tradition. To date, $300K has been raised towards this $1.2M project.  When completed, it will function as the heart and center of life for the planned 700 children who will study and live in its community. Some of the major accomplishments of the construction include construction of a new kitchen. Approximately 150 people can easily be served from this kitchen which contains three wood burning stoves, two gas stoves, and a refrigerator. Side by side was completed the construction of the 19X25 store room, and a three room apartment for Tulku Tsori Rinpoche. In progress is the construction of eight large statues of Buddhist deities in the main prayer hall, as well as many Buddhist paintings, both inside and outside of the Monastery.  


•    Two new YTDR Dharma centers were founded  in Caracas, Venezuela and Floresville, Texas.  One of the missions of the Floresville sangha in particular will be to take an active role with Homeless Meditation Practitioners (HMP) which provides training and support to start Meditation Groups in Homeless Shelters in the San Antonio area. We welcome our new Sanghas to our family and look forward to seeing their growth in the coming year.


•    YogaEarth, an innovator in the Yoga Nutrition movement, has partnered with YTDR to co-market and fundraise for YTDR's charitable missions. YogaEarth has committed to donate 5% of profits for each monthly kit of supplements sold, and in December made a contribution of over $5,000 in vitamins for the Children’s Monastery. Rinpoche found a high amount of personal interest in YogaEarth's system based on interconnectedness of body and mind to achieve higher levels of personal wellness, and decided to accept an invitation to sit on the board of advisors for the company.